Therapeutic exercise apparatus

ABSTRACT

Therapeutic exercise apparatus for insertion beneath a patient occupied bed mattress. The apparatus has a base that is so constructed and arranged that it is conveniently insertable under any part of the bed mattress and has joined to it a weight support which includes a guide device and a cable device. The cable device has a cable with variable weights on one end and a sling on the other. The weights resist movement of the sling by the user of the apparatus. Additionally, the apparatus affords various adjustments and is foldable to facilitate portability and storage.

United States Patent [191 Mossman THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE APPARATUS [76]Inventor: Vera L. Mossman, 5612 Griggs Dr.,

Flint, Mich. 48504 [22] Filed: Mar. 16, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 235,139

[52] US. Cl. 272/58, 128/84 C, 272/81, 272/D1G. 4

[51] Int. Cl. A6lh l/02, A61f 5/04 [58] Field of Search 272/58, 57 R;128/84 C; 5/318, 319, 331

[56] References Cited UNlTED STATES PATENTS 11/1885 McMurray 5/331 OTHERPUBLlCATlONS DePuy Fracture Appliances Catalog, May, 1966; p. 127, CribFrame, No. 660. DePuy Fracture Appliances Catalog, May, 1966; p.

[ July 30, 1974 126, Arm Frame, No. 688.

Primary Examiner--Richard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-Joseph R. TaylorAttorney, Agent, or Firm-Fisher, Krass, Young &

Gerhardt [57] ABSTRACT Therapeutic erercise apparatus for insertionbeneath a patient occupied bed mattress The apparatus has'a base that isso constructed and arranged that it is conveniently insertable under anypart of the bed mattress and has joined to it a weight support whichincludes a guide device and a cable device. The cable device has a cablewith variable weights on one end and a sling on the other. The weightsresist movement of the sling by the user of the apparatus. Additionally,the apparatus affords various adjustments and is foldable to facilitateportability and storage.

18 Claims, 10 Drawing Figures THERAPEUTIC EXERCISE APPARATUS Thisinvention relates to improvements in exercise apparatus adapted althoughnot exclusively, for therapeutic purposes.

'Exercise apparatus, particularly that used for therapeudic purposes, isgenerally bulky and heavy so as to be neither easily movable norconveniently stored. Also this apparatus is relatively complicated andexpensive. Consequently, it is generally precluded from home use andeven its clinical use is somewhat restricted.

With the foregoing in mind, new and different therapeudic apparatus iscontemplated that is light weight, portable, easily stored, simple tooperate and inexpensrve.

Also contemplated is therapeutic exercise apparatus that can beinstalled beneathany conventional patient reclining surface.

Further contemplated is therapeutic exercise appa poses.

Other objects include the provision of therapeutic exercise apparatusthat affords various a djustmenfsTo" 3 and 4 are fragmentary p pectiveviews? the FIG. 1 apparatus using respectively rectangular shaped stockand flat stock.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of an alternative guideprovision for the FIG. 1 apparatus.

FIGS. 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 each show fragmentary perspective views ofdifferent modifications of a base for the FIG. 1 apparatus.

Referring first to FIG. 1 the numeral 10 denotes generally t l 1 erapeutic exercise apparatus installed for purposes of demonstration only,to a bed 12 of the conventional type having a pad or mattress 14supported by th e usual springs 16. It should be understood that theexercise apparatus 10 can be used with other than beds; e.g., thepatient may install the apparatus beneath any user occupied apparatussuch as a chair, a couch, the cushions of the chair or the couch orbeneath a pad on a floor. The exercise apparatus 10, shown positioned atthe foot of the bed and also at the side of the bed, comprises anupright weight support denoted generally at 18 and a base denotedgenerally at 20. The base 20 slides under the mattress 14 and isconstructed and arranged as will be explained to preclude tilting of theweight support 18 during use. The weight support 18 carries a guidedevice 22 and two cable devices 24 which combine to provide resistancetype exercise for the user of the apparatus 10.

Considering first the weight support 18 and with reference to FIGS. 1and 2, the weight support 18 includes a vertical post 26 that may be ofone piece nonadjustable construction as shown in FIG. 1 or formed in twopieces that are adjustable as shown in FIG. 2. In FIG. 2 the verticalpost 26 comprises an upper section 27 and a lower section 28 that isslidable within the upper section 27 for vertical adjustment purposes.This adjustable connection of the two sections 27 and 28 can employ anyother well known adjustable connection; e.g., a threaded connection. Tomaintain the selected position of the two sections 27 and 28 a lockingdevice, such as a pin 30 can be inserted through both the upper andlower sections 27 and 28. In the alternative a screw could be employed.When the pin 30 is used, a series of spaced apart holes 31 can beprovided in the lower section 28 so as to permit the locking of thesections 27 and 28 at the selected different vertical height of the post26.

The vertical post 26 has at its upper end a top cross member 32 and atits lower end a bottom cross member 34. As viewed in FIG. 2, the top andbottom cross members 32 and 34 are substantially parallel and slightlyout of vertical alignment with the top cross member 32 being slightlyoffset relative to the bottom cross member 34. This alignment as well asthe parallelism can, of course, be varied to meet the requirements ofdifferent applications. The vertical post 26 and the top and bottomcross members 32 and 34 are preferably made of a lightweight, durableand strong material such as steel, or aluminum and may be made indifferent cross sectional forms determined by the particularapplication. For example, the vertical post 26 and the top and bottomcross member 32 and 34 can have a tubular cross section as shown in FIG.2 or a square or rectangular hollow cross section as shown in FIG. 3, beformed of flat stock as shown in FIG. 4, have a solid cross section orbe formed from a combination of these. The connection between the topand bottom cross member 32 and 34 and the vertical post 26 can be madein any of the usual ways such as by welding, threading or pressedfitting the parts together.

The guide device 22 functions to provide guide ways for the two cabledevices 24 and includes a pair of guide bars 40. Two cable devices 24are required if the user is to exercise both limbs; hence the two guidebars 40 would usually be provided so that this dual use option is alwaysavailable. These guide bars 40 are joined to the top cross member 32 onopposite sides of the vertical post 26 and are formed of flat steelstock but they may be of any other cross section and material such'asthose suggested for the vertical post 26 and the top and bottom crossmembers 32 and 34. The guide bars 40 can, as shown in FIG. 1, bepermanently affixed to the top cross member 32 intermediate its ends bywelding or the equivalent, or they can, as shown in FIG. 5, have anadjustable provision with their position on the top cross member 32adjustable to accomodate different size users and uses. To obtain theadjustment, the guide bars 40 are provided with flanges 42 to slidablyreceive the ends of the top cross member 32. In this way the guide bars40 can be moved inwardly or outwardly with respect to the vertical post26 and fixed into position by a locking device, such as a pin 44 or ascrew as with the adjustable vertical post in FIG. 2. The

different positions of the guide bars 40 can be established by providingspaced holes 45 in the ends of the top cross member 32 for receiving thepin 44. Also with the FIG. 5 construction and if preferred, the guideelements or bars 40 can be either maintained horizontal or rotated tosome selected position by a threaded connection or by appropriatelyaligning holes through the flange 42 and the end of the top cross member32 to ac- 3, comodate'these non-horizontal positions and then insertingthe pin 44.

The guide bars 40 have spaced holes 46 for receiving hooks 48 or thelike which are permanently joined to or releasably attached to pulleys50. By use of the hooks 48 the pulleys 50 can be positioned along theguide bars 40 at different distances from the vertical post 26 so as toprovide the desired overhang and additionally whatever desired angularrelationshi is wanted by the user of the apparatus 10.

The cable devices 24 afford the weight resistance to the user of theexercising apparatus 10. Each cable device 24 includesa cable 52 of anyrope or wirelike material either metallic or nonmetallic and having thedesired strength and flexibility characteristics for the application ofthe apparatus 10. Each cable 52 is strung through a pair of pulleys 50which. perform as cable runs and has attached at its inside or bedsideend, by a hook or ring'54, a limb engaging element or sling 56. Thesling 56 is intended to be exemplary only, since a grip on whatever theuser desires can be connected either to the ring 54 or directly to thecable end. At the other end the cable 52 has a variable weightprovision, such as a bag 58 depicted in FIG. 1 which may contain sand oran equivalent material that can be addedor removed to provide weightvariation or individual metallic weights 60 as viewed in FIG. 2 whichcan be increased or decreased in number to also vary the weight. It isalso contemplated that a spring 62 could be used separately or togetherwith the weights 60 to provide resistance. The resistance provided bythe spring62 can be made variable by a screw 64 threadedly joined to thebottom cross member 34 of the vertical post 26 such that rotation of thescrew 64 will either increase or decrease the tension and accordinglythe resistance provided by the spring 62.

The base can be formed in different ways to serve its function ofproviding a stable support or stand for the weight support 18;otherwise, the weight support 18 would tend to tilt or rotate duringuse, about the bottom cross member 34 or in a plane parallel to the bed12. The base 20 includes a pair of spaced apart legs 66 that are joinedto opposite ends of the bottom cross member 34. The material and crosssection of these legs 66 can be any of those suggested for the verticalpost 26 and the top and bottom cross members 32 and 34. The distancethat these legs 66 are separated will be determined by the use of theapparatus but the minimum distance will be adequate to insure that theweight support 18 is not permitted to rotate in the aforementioned planeparallel to the mattress edge. The length that the legs 66 extend underthe mattress 14 can also be varied according to the use, but againshould be adequate to prevent any tendency for the weight support 18 totilt about the bottom cross member 34; i.e., in a plane that would besubstantially perpendicular to the other plane of rotation about themattress edge. The legs 66 can have their ends permanently joined as bywelding to the opposite ends of the bottom cross member 34 and also havetheir opposite. ends integrally joined together so that they present aU-shaped configuration as shown in FIG. 1. The maximum distance that theintegral, fixed legs 66 in FIG. 1 can extend under the mattress 14 isdetermined by the bottom cross member 34 of the weight support 18 whichserves as a stop when it encounters the edge of the mattress 14.

' other and can be locked into place by a locking device,

such as a pin 72, a screw or something equivalent. Spaced apart holes 74in the part 68 can be provided as discussed before to receive the pin 72for locking the legs 66 at whatever length is selected.

If it is desired to vary the distance that the legs 66 are separated,the constructions shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 can be used. Considering firstFIG. 6, the legs 66 have flanges 76 at each end which slide over theends of the bottom cross member 34. If it is preferred that the oppositeends of the legs 66 be interconnected in some way, then they can have atelescopic connection as shown at 78. The flanges 76 can be locked whenthe legs 66' are separated the desired distance by any appropriatelocking device, such as the illustrated locking screws 82 or theaforementioned locking pins.

In FIG. 7, the legs 66 have at the one end of each, flanges 84 which arethreaded onto the ends of the bottom cross member 34 and are locked intoplace by a locking device such as looking screws 86. It will be notedthat the opposite ends denoted generally by the numerals 88 are open andhave no interconnection; hence, the legs 66 can beseparately installed.If preferred, the FIG. 1 and FIG. 7 bases 20 can also have these openends.

The FIG. 6, 7, 8, 9, and l0 constructions also provide a connectingprovision for providing the folding fea ture. For example, in FIG. 6 thelegs 66 can, by loosening the locking screws 82, be removed from thehorizontal position shown to a vertical folded position shown in brokenlines relative to the vertical post 26 of the weight support 18. Thelegs 66 can be locked into the vertical folded position by tighteningthe locking screws 82. In FIG. 7 the locking screws 86 areloosened topermit the legs 66 to be moved to the folded position and thentightened.

This folding feature can also be achieved with the FIG. 8 constructionin which the legs 66 form ball and socket connections at 90 with theends of the bottom cross member 34 of the weight support 18. A suitablelocking strut 92 is interconnected between the bottom cross member 34and an associated leg 66. These locking struts 92 maintain the legs 66in the horizontal position when the apparatus 10 is in use and can bereleased so that the legs 66 can be folded to the vertical position.

In the FIG. 9 construction, a hinge shown at 94 interconnects theopposite ends of the bottom cross member 34 with the ends of the legs66. The legs 66 are shown formed of flat stock but they can be made withany of the other cross sectional areas previously discussed. A lockingstrut 96 similar to the locking strut 92 in FIG. 8 is used to maintainthe leg 66 in the illustrated vertical position and is released when itis desired to move the legs 66 to the vertical folded position shown inbroken lines.

In FIG. 10 a construction similar to that in FIG. 6 is shown except thatinstead of the locking screw 82 a locking pin 98 is employed and is alsoused to permit variation of the distance apart of the legs 66 as well aslocking the legs 66 in the broken line vertical folded position.

One should be mindful that the apparatus can include one or more of theforegoing features. Whether or not these different features areincluded, will be determined by various considerations including costand the intended application of the apparatus 10.

If the bed 12 has, for example, a foot board, (not shown) a clampingdevice shown generally at 100 can be used. The clamping device 100 hasan arcuate member 102 that partially surrounds the periphery of thevertical post 26 and cooperates with a clamp 104 to hold the device 100in the selected vertical position. This is done by tightening a nut andscrew 106 or the like so that the clamp 104 holds the arcuate member 102in a clamping relationship with the periphery of the vertical post 26.The device 100 on the side opposite the side with the nut and screw 106has a'swingable arm 108 that pivots about a boss 110 on the device 100and can be held in whatever position is selected by a nut and screw 112similar to the nut and screw 106. The arm 108 is intended to embrace theedge of the footboard of a bed and thus afford additional support ifneeded.

To use the therapeutic exercise apparatus 10, the base is remoyed fromthe folded vertical position if this feature is included to thehorizontal position then adjusted both in length and width, if thesefeatures are also included, so that it can be inserted under themattress 14. Next the weight support 18 is adjusted if the vertical post26 has the FIG. 2 adjustment. The guide device 18 is then adjusted byarranging the pulleys 50 so that the weights 58 or 60 will extend beyondthe bed 12 and are unrestricted in their movement, and also, so that theslings 56, either separately or together, depending whether one or bothare to be used, are conveniently accessible for use by the patients armsor legs or whatever part of the body is to be exercised. Also, if theFIG. 5 construction is used, the guide bars 40 can be rotatably adjustedand spatially adjusted to facilitate convenience. Finally, the cabledevices 24 are adjusted so that the desired weight is available toprovide the required resistance.

From the foregoing it will now be appreciated that therapeudicexercising apparatus is provided that is simple in construction,requires no special training to use and operate, affords numerousadjustments if wanted for versatility and convenience, is foldable forstorage and transportation purposes and is light-weight.

What is claimed:

1. In portable therapeutic exercise apparatus adapted for removableinstallation to patient occupied apparatus having a pad or like whichuser occupies; the combination of a weight support arranged forpositioning beside the user occupied apparatus and including an uprightpost having substantially parallel top and bottom cross members at theopposite ends thereof, guide means carried by the top cross member, theguide means including pulley means and a pair of guide elements joinedto and spaced apart one on each of the top cross members and laterallyextending therefrom, the pair of guide elements each including meansvariably positioning the pulley means therealong and cable meansincluding a cable slidably supported by each guide element and having alimb engaging element joined to one end of each cable and weight meansjoined to the other end of each cable for resisting movement of thepatients limb, each guide element slidably supporting a respective cableso that the limb engaging element can be freely reciprocated above thepad by the patients limb against the resistance from the weight meansand the weight means extends away from the patient occupied aparatus;and a base constructed and arranged for slidable positioning beneath thepad, the base being non-attachable to the patient occupied apparatus andincluding a pair of spaced apart legs joined to a respective one of theopposite ends of the bottom cross member and adapted to extend apredetermined distance beneath the pad and in a plane extendinglaterally to the side of the pad so as to prevent tilting of the weightsupport about the bottom cross member, said legs being spaced apart apredetermined distance so as to prevent tilting of the weight support ina plane substantially parallel to a side of the pad, the base beingfurther constructed and arranged to be swingable to a folded positionrelative to the upright post.

2. Portable therapeutic exercise apparatus as described in claim 1,wherein the weight s upport includes clamping means adjustably movableon the upright post and arranged to releasably clamp to a portion of thepatient occupied apparatus to provide additional support.

P r e e ap QFS ?EH 2 -4?- scribed in claim 2, wherein the base includesconnecting means rotatably joining the ends of the spaced apart legs tothe opposite ends of the bottom cross member so that the base isswingable from a horizontal position to a folded position relative tothe upright post.

Ra b ape qeaer i s 222%! s escribed in claim 2, wherein the baseincludes connecting means rotatably joining the ends of the spaced apartlegs to the opposite ends of the bottom cross member so that the base isswingable from an operative position relative to the upright post.

5. Rgrtable therapeutic exercise apparatus as described in claim 1,wherein the uprightpost comprises aligned upper and lower sectionsadjustable relative to each other to vary the height of the top crossmember above the patient occupied apparatus.

6. Portable th erapeutig exercise apparatus as de; scribed in claim 1,wherein the guide fiieans includes means releasably, slidably androtatably connecting the guide element to an end of the top crossmember.

Z-..l39rtabl he eytis sm arat 88 d2- scribed in claim 1, wherein thebase includes connecting means rotatably joining the ends of the spacedapart legs to the opposite ends of the bottom cross member so that thebase is swingable from an operative position to a folded positionrelative to the upright post.

8. Pgr table th rapeutic apparatus as dggiagd in claim 7, whereinmaasraaain means is a pair of hinges each connecting an end of thebottom cross member to a respective one of the legs and the connectingmeans includes locking means releasably retaining the base in either thehorizontal or vertical position.

9. Portable therapeutic exercise apparatuses described in claim 7,wherein the connecting means is a threaded connection between each endof the bottom cross member and an end of a respective one of the legs,the threaded connection being constructed so that the legs are separableand the predetermined distance between the spaced apart legs is therebyrendered variable.

10. Portable therapeutic exercise apparatus as de-- scribed in claim 7,wherein the connecting means is a telescopic connection between each endof the spaced apart legs and a respective end of the bottom crossmember, the telescopic connection being constructed so that the legs areaxially, separable and the predetermined distance between the spacedapart legs is thereby rendered variable.

11- Becam msragqnis sx s pa a u as 2, scribed in claim 7, wherein theconnecting means is a ball and socket connection and the connectingmeans includes means releasably locking the base in either the foldedposition of the operative position.

J2. Portable therapeugc exercise apparatus as dg scribed in claim 7,wherein the corniectihg means also slidably joins the ends of the spacedapart legs to the opposite ends of the bottom cross member for axialmovement therealong to vary the predetermined distance between thespaced apart legs.

1 3 Portable therapeutic exercise apparatus as de scribed in claim 12,wherein the spaced apart legs ea ch comprise interconnected retractableand extensible parts for varying the length of the legs and meanslocking the parts in a selected position and wherein the guide meansfurther includes means releasably, slidably and rotatably connectingeach of the pair of guide elements to a respective end of the top crossmember.

1 P nalalc, tlzsrapsstissrsrs ssfl aratss s 5 9-. scribed in claim 1,wherein the spaced apart legs'at the ends opposite the ends joined tothe opposite ends of the bottom cross member are integrally joined toform a U-shaped base.

45929 6 the i .szssrsusa a ys escribed in claim l, wherein the spacedapart legsarEL- shaped.

16 Portable therapeutic exercise apparatus as described in claim 1,wherein the spaced apart legs each comprise interconnected retractableand extensible parts for varying the length of the legs and meanslocking the parts in a selected position.

l:/. Portable therapeutic exercise apparatus as 515;; scribed in claim1, wherein the base includes connecting means rotatably and axiallymovably joining the ends of each of the legs to the opposite end of thebottom cross member so that the base is swingable from an operativeposition or a folded position relative to the upright post and thepredetermined distance between a spaced apart legs is variable.

scribed in claim 17, Tavherein the space'dapart legs of the base havetheir ends opposite the ends joined to the bottom cross membertelescopically joined to each other to facilitate the adjustment of thepredetermined distance between the spaced apart legs.

1. In portable therapeudic exercise apparatus adapted for removableinstallation to patient occupied apparatus having a pad or like whichuser occupies; the combination of a weight support arranged forpositioning beside the user occupied apparatus and including an uprightpost having substantially parallel top and bottom cross members at theopposite ends thereof, guide means carried by the top cross member, theguide means including pulley means and a pair of guide elements joinedto and spaced apart one on each of the top cross members and laterallyextending therefrom, the pair of guide elements each including meansvariably positioning the pulley means therealong and cable meansincluding a cable slidably supported by each guide element and having alimb engaging element joined to one end of each cable and weight meansjoined to the other end of each cable for resisting movement of thepatient''s limb, each guide element slidably supporting a respectivecable so that the limb engaging element can be freely reciprocated abovethe pad by the patients limb against the resistance from the weightmeans and the weight means extends away from the patient occupiedaparatus; and a base constructed and arranged for slidable positioningbeneath the pad, the base being non-attachable to the patient occupiedapparatus and including a pair of spaced apart legs joined to arespective one of the opposite ends of the bottom cross member andadapted to extend a predetermined distance beneath the pad and in aplane extending laterally to the side of the pad so as to preventtilting of the weight support about the bottom cross member, said legsbeing spaced apart a predetermined distance so as to prevent tilting ofthe weight support in a plane substantially parallel to a side of thepad, the base being further constructed and arranged to be swingable toa folded position relative to the upright post.
 2. Portable therapeudicexercise apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the weight supportincludes clamping means adjustably movable on the upright post andarranged to releasably clamp to a portion of the patient occupiedapparatus to provide additional support.
 3. Portable therapeudicexercise apparatus as described in claim 2, wherein the base includesconnecting means rotatably joining the ends of the spaced apart legs tothe opposite ends of the bottom cross member so that the base isswIngable from a horizontal position to a folded position relative tothe upright post.
 4. Portable therapeudic exercise apparatus asdescribed in claim 2, wherein the base includes connecting meansrotatably joining the ends of the spaced apart legs to the opposite endsof the bottom cross member so that the base is swingable from anoperative position relative to the upright post.
 5. Portable therapeudicexercise apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the upright postcomprises aligned upper and lower sections adjustable relative to eachother to vary the height of the top cross member above the patientoccupied apparatus.
 6. Portable therapeudic exercise apparatus asdescribed in claim 1, wherein the guide means includes means releasably,slidably and rotatably connecting the guide element to an end of the topcross member.
 7. Portable therapeudic exercise apparatus as described inclaim 1, wherein the base includes connecting means rotatably joiningthe ends of the spaced apart legs to the opposite ends of the bottomcross member so that the base is swingable from an operative position toa folded position relative to the upright post.
 8. Portable therapeudicapparatus as described in claim 7, wherein the connecting means is apair of hinges each connecting an end of the bottom cross member to arespective one of the legs and the connecting means includes lockingmeans releasably retaining the base in either the horizontal or verticalposition.
 9. Portable therapeudic exercise apparatus as described inclaim 7, wherein the connecting means is a threaded connection betweeneach end of the bottom cross member and an end of a respective one ofthe legs, the threaded connection being constructed so that the legs areseparable and the predetermined distance between the spaced apart legsis thereby rendered variable.
 10. Portable therapeudic exerciseapparatus as described in claim 7, wherein the connecting means is atelescopic connection between each end of the spaced apart legs and arespective end of the bottom cross member, the telescopic connectionbeing constructed so that the legs are axially, separable and thepredetermined distance between the spaced apart legs is thereby renderedvariable.
 11. Portable therapeudic exercise apparatus as described inclaim 7, wherein the connecting means is a ball and socket connectionand the connecting means includes means releasably locking the base ineither the folded position of the operative position.
 12. Portabletherapeudic exercise apparatus as described in claim 7, wherein theconnecting means also slidably joins the ends of the spaced apart legsto the opposite ends of the bottom cross member for axial movementtherealong to vary the predetermined distance between the spaced apartlegs.
 13. Portable therapeudic exercise apparatus as described in claim12, wherein the spaced apart legs each comprise interconnectedretractable and extensible parts for varying the length of the legs andmeans locking the parts in a selected position and wherein the guidemeans further includes means releasably, slidably and rotatablyconnecting each of the pair of guide elements to a respective end of thetop cross member.
 14. Portable therapeudic exercise apparatus asdescribed in claim 1, wherein the spaced apart legs at the ends oppositethe ends joined to the opposite ends of the bottom cross member areintegrally joined to form a U-shaped base.
 15. Portable therapeudicexercise apparatus as described in claim 1, wherein the spaced apartlegs are L-shaped.
 16. Portable therapeudic exercise apparatus asdescribed in claim 1, wherein the spaced apart legs each compriseinterconnected retractable and extensible parts for varying the lengthof the legs and means locking the parts in a selected position. 17.Portable therapeudic exercise apparatus as described in claim 1, whereinthe base includes connecting means rotatably and axially movably joiningthe ends of each of the legs to the opposite end of The bottom crossmember so that the base is swingable from an operative position or afolded position relative to the upright post and the predetermineddistance between a spaced apart legs is variable.
 18. Portabletherapeudic exercise apparatus as described in claim 17, wherein thespaced apart legs of the base have their ends opposite the ends joinedto the bottom cross member telescopically joined to each other tofacilitate the adjustment of the predetermined distance between thespaced apart legs.